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Re: desperate for advice on what to do....

Keep on pumping!! You are doing great!! Hopefully you will be able to do some skin to skin and maybe even try nursing soon. Congrats on the new little one

It is a lot of work with the pump but you can do it. I would agree to have your horns sized. I dont know anyone that actually uses the 24mm. I started with the 27mm's and had to move up to the 30mm's 6 moths later.

Re: help! ( i posted this under pumping also)

Wow how scary and traumatic for you. It is SO very hard to be separated from baby on top of everything else. Please try not to be overly concerned over what amount of milk you can pump at this point. For one thing, it's still very early. For another, some moms don't do great with producing for the pump- even the best pumps, which is why pump output is a poor indicator of supply. This often improves with time & practice but pumping is never quite like a baby nursing. For another, the stress and recovery from surgery may well slow the process down a bit.

Keep doing what you are doing but also do everything you can to get rest and take care of yourself. When you can hold your baby, it may be best for both of you to at first to not even stress out about feeding but to instead enjoy the closeness. Do what works best for you. I am going to attach a link about laid back breastfeeding below that you can check out if you like. Often just letting baby be snuggled on mom in a relaxed state brings on the instinctual rooting and latching behaviors in baby and laid back promotes that.

If your milk has clearly transitioned and you are not seeing an uptick in output, I suggest you have your pump, even the hospital pump, looked at and/or tested by the LC. Pumps are machines and they can malfunction just like any other machine. Also it is very important to be using the correct flange (breast sheild) size, and that can vary over time, some moms even need a different size for each breast. Also hospital LCs are often understaffed and over sceduled. If she cannot see you for long enough, request more time. Sometimes is up to mom to advocate for herslef and her baby.

Organic unavoidable low milk supply is very rare. Your body was made to make enough milk for your baby. Trust in your body. This difficult start is making the process harder but in no way does it mean you will end up with permanent low supply or be unable to breastfeed your baby! It's just far to early to tell about any of that. There are many ways to increase supply should that be an issue. Also low supply should that occur need not be a barrier to breastfeeding, breastfeeding need not be all or nothing. And babies have been brought to breast after weeks and even months of not being able to nurse. You are doing a heroic job under very difficult circumstances.

Re: help! ( i posted this under pumping also)

My heart goes out to you and I hope your son is healthy and ready to go home soon! Have you tried alternating an electric pump and a hand pump?? Like do one and then the other. It took 3 full days before my milk supply came in with my daughter. When you are able to breastfeed him it will also help your milk supply. You are doing an an amazing job already. Just keep doing what you are doing and you will get a better supply. Don't give up, when your milk comes in more it will get easier. Make sure you are eating and drinking very well. An extra 500 calories a day! Good luck!!